Airman 1st Class Kara Walker, Aerospace medical services technician, 192nd Medical Group, rappels down a four-story tower Nov. 2, 2018, at the Harry E. Diezel Virginia Beach Fire Department Training Center in Virginia Beach. The training prepared the Airmen for some of the challenging of tasks they could be called to do as part of their domestic mission. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Bryan Myhr)

The training prepared them for some of the wide variety of tasks they could be called to do as part of the detachment’s primary mission, CERFP.

“CERFP stands for CBRNE enhanced response force package, and CBRNE stands for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives,” said Staff Sgt. Katelyn King, 192nd Medical Group search and extraction medic. Held on Nov. 2, King was one of about 25 participants in a specialized training session with the elite Virginia Task Force 2, a Federal Emergency Management Agency urban search and rescue team.

“We’re here … with our comrades from Langley to do some disaster medicine, show them a confined space, [and teach them] access and medical assessments in a disaster environment,” said Robert Munro, medical specialist with Virginia Task Force 2. “This is a partnership to help assist them and teach them what we know, if there’s anything to be taught.”

The Airmen crawled through confined tunnels, under wrecked cars, and through concrete wreckage, all stuffed into shipping containers making it pitch black even during mid-day. This setup simulates some of the things one might find during an urban search and rescue mission. They moved together as a team, negotiated obstacles, located casualties and provided care as best as they could in the cramped, dusty environment.

“The CBRN response enterprise constitutes most of the military’s total life-saving capacity dedicated to domestic response operations when local authorities become overwhelmed,” said Lt. Col. Cheryl Stacklin, 192nd MDG Det. 1 commander. “Our training prepares us to assess and treat casualties and adapt to complex incidents.”

After a brief lunch, the Airmen proceeded to the rappelling tower for rigging training and then descended the side of a four-story building.

During the previous day, their training was on more solid ground setting up tents, checking equipment and testing protective masks in Sandston.

Suicide Prevention Resources

Are you or a loved one in a crisis and need help? Call 1-800-273-8255 and press '1' for the Military Crisis Line or text to 838255. They are all available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please visit the Suicide Prevention Resources page for more information.